Aberystwyth University scholar receives prestigious Audrey Jones Award for women’s rights work

An Aberystwyth University scholar received the prestigious Audrey Jones Award for her work in women’s rights.

The Wales Assembly of Women awarded the accolade to Elize Freeman, a university scholar and co-lead of the Dewis Choice Initiative.

This award, now in its ninth year, honours Freeman’s dedication to supporting older women who have survived domestic abuse, particularly those navigating complex support and justice systems.

The Audrey Jones Award, named in memory of feminist activist Audrey Jones (1924-2014), is presented annually to scholars advancing research on the experiences of women and girls in Wales. Jones, a founder of the Wales Assembly of Women, was committed to gender equality and advocating for women’s rights through feminist research. The award is intended to support recipients’ work and foster impactful change in women’s rights across Wales.

Elize, who joined Dewis Choice in 2015, is an experienced well-being practitioner, independent domestic and sexual violence advisor, and dementia champion. Her work has involved directly supporting older survivors, highlighting issues often overlooked in mainstream discussions on domestic abuse.

Talking about her work, Elize said: “Older women are often missing from the discourse of domestic abuse. I feel privileged to have met so many inspirational older women who have shared their stories, helping us shape responses that truly meet their needs.”

Her contributions include co-authoring Transforming the Response to Domestic Abuse in Later Life: Dewis Choice Practitioner Guidance, a resource aimed at better equipping professionals to support older survivors.

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Elize’s work is deeply rooted in a commitment to human rights and addressing overlooked issues within domestic abuse support. She proclaimed her gratitude for the award, saying: “I want to express my thanks to the Wales Assembly of Women for selecting me for the Audrey Jones Award and the opportunities it provides to raise the profile of older female victims of domestic abuse in Wales.”

In England and Wales, violence against older women, including domestic abuse, remains a critical issue. Recent statistics reveal that domestic abuse affects 6.6 per cent of women annually, with older women experiencing unique barriers when seeking support.

Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) indicates that 1 in 20 adults experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024, with women making up the majority of reported cases.

Moreover, the National Policing Statement has highlighted the urgent need for targeted intervention, describing violence against women and girls as a “national emergency” due to the scale and complexity of the issue. Across all age groups, police recorded over one million violence-related incidents against women in the last year.

Feature image via Aberystwyth University